Hockey round-up: Derby spoils shared as Long Sutton earn draw at Spalding

Spalding Poachers 1st dropped their first points of the East Women’s League Division 2NW season on Saturday as neighbours Long Sutton 1st picked up a 1-1 draw at Glen Park.

Ahead of the all-South Holland clash, Spalding had racked up three wins from as many games while Sutton had only managed one victory.

It looked like the Surfleet showdown was going with form when Kelly Slater tapped home a 12th-minute opener, but the visitors hit back to level when Amber Jones finished off Gemma Parr’s free hit.

Spalding pushed for a winner, but – despite numerous short corners – were unable to beat an inspired Lorraine Wallis.

Sutton are at home to Saffron Walden this Saturday (1pm), with Spalding visiting Cambs South (3pm).

Elsewhere, Spalding Poachers 3rd made it three wins from four games in Division 4NW (N) by beating Alford 2nd 3-0 at Glen Park.

Player-of-the-match Kate Amess and skipper Charlotte Morris netted to put them 2-0 ahead at the break, with Morris rounding off the scoring with her second after the break.

• Spalding 1st only managed one point from two East Men’s Hockey League Premier B games over the weekend.

Goals from Stuart Cunnington and James Mayhew earned them a 2-2 draw with Havering 1st on Saturday. But they were then thumped 10-5 at Sudbury on Sunday despite goals from Cunnington (2), Joe Higgins (2) and Mayhew.

Spalding will hope to get back to winning ways when they host Upminster 1st on Saturday (2pm).

In Division 2N, Long Sutton 1st are still seeking their first point of the campaign after a 3-1 home loss against St Ives 1st.

Josh Baker had given them the lead at the Peele Leisure Centre, but two late goals denied them at least a point. They’ll try again at Norwich City 2nd on Saturday (2.30pm).

In Division 3NW, Jacob Baker’s fantastic late strike earned Spalding 2nd a 1-1 draw at Ely City 1st. They had dominated the second half without reward until Baker beat a man and unleashed an unstoppable reverse stick effort to secure a point.

In Division 4NW, Spalding 3rd picked up their second win of the season by seeing off Kettering 2nd 3-2 at Glen Park. Hugh Cruickshank (2) and Max Bland were the scorers as Spalding moved up to eighth in the table.

Meanwhile, Spalding 4th were handed their first defeat of the Division 5NW season.

In a clash of two sides with 100 per cent records, they lost 5-2 at Wisbech 3rd despite goals from David Burrell and Oliver Smith.

There was a derby in Division 6NW (N) as Spalding 5th beat Long Sutton 3rd 4-1.

Jack Martin, Oliver Baker, Tom Bland and Matthew McManamon-Cookson netted for Spalding, while Steve Smith replied for defeated Sutton.